Identifying barriers to adoption of irrigation scheduling tools in Rio Grande Basin

Abstract

Irrigated agriculture in the Rio Grande region faces water management related challenges due to climate variability and rise in non-agricultural water demand. Scientific irrigation scheduling (SIS) tools allow growers to optimize the water use and conserve water by making informed decisions. Nevertheless, multiple technological and economic barriers could slow down the adoption of these technologies. This study investigates the barriers to adoption of SIS methods in the U.S. part of Rio Grande basin by getting irrigators’ perspective and outlines the factors that influence adoption. Multiple adoption barriers are listed, and the most important ones are lack of access to weather data, uncertainty about future water availability, cost effectiveness of technologies, reliability of weather data, lack of availability of irrigation scheduling tools, and risk of reduced yield. Factors that influence the growers’ decision to adopt SIS are also explored, which are quality of land, yield, water use efficiency, and water availability for future generations. Age, education, and years involved in agriculture may also govern the knowledge and adoption of SIS methods. The results of this study provide guidance to policy makers and extension experts to strengthen water conservation efforts in Rio Grande basin and other comparable regions in the world.